Reading: Matthew 1:18-25

As we have been imagining the hope, peace, joy and love of Christ this Advent, we come to a passage of Scripture that is difficult for any of us to imagine! Joseph receives news that his wife to be- Mary – is pregnant. Keep in mind at this time that the betrothal between Joseph and Mary is a legal contract. Though the marriage has not yet been consummated, the two are legally married in the eyes of all their family and friends. This news from the angel leaves Joseph with a choice: he could choose to be publicly shamed by others, or he could choose to publicly shame Mary.

In our world today, that the choice to publicly shame another is made often. Whether shaming over social media for political stances different than our own, shaming people when they do something embarrassing, or even shaming by blaming someone else for our poor choices.

But Joseph was able to see beyond a world of shame and blame, thanks to God’s help. Before he even receives a visit from the angel, Joseph decides to just dismiss Mary quietly, so as not to shame her. Then the angel’s appearance gives him a vision that there was another possibility. This child could be a gift from God, not a reason for blame and shame. I wonder if we too might be able to listen more closely to God’s help, before we jump to conclusions of shame and blame. I imagine that is what God would want for our world: a world where we spend the time to deeply listen to another persons point of view before we shame their opinion of our conclusions. A world where we sit with others in their embarrassment rather than laughing and pointing fingers. A world where despite what seems to be on the surface, we can imagine God’s work is beyond what we can understand.

As we stop living in a world of shame and blame, we can start imagining the reality of God’s love.